Daily Times

Pakistan on Monday appointed Ambassador Munir Akram as permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York, in place of Dr Maleeha Lodhi.

Munir Akram has already served as Pakistan permanent representative to the United Nations from 2002-2008 after serving on the similar position to the UN in Geneva from 1995 to 2002.

Dr Lodhi has completed her term as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations on a ‘high note’ after having served for the past four and a half years. She was Pakistan’s first female permanent representative at the UN and now returns to the country to take up an important assignment, according to informed sources.

The sudden announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Imran and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi returned to Pakistan after wrapping up their visit to the United States to attend the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

“It has been an honour to serve the country and I am grateful for being given this opportunity to do so for over four years,” Ambassador Lodhi said in an interview. “Representing Pakistan at the world’s most important multilateral forum was both a privilege and an enormous responsibility. I had planned to move on following the United nations General Assembly and am fortunate to leave on a high note after a successful visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan and am humbled by the appreciation I have received and the support I have also received over the years,” she added.

Among other changes approved by the prime minister, Khalil Ahmad Hashmi, who is at present serving as director general (UN) at the foreign ministry, has been appointed as permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva.

Muhammad Aejaz, the additional secretary (AIT) at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Hungary. Pakistan’s Charge d’ Affaires to Pyongyang Syed Sajjad Haider has now been posted as the new ambassador to Kuwait.

Imran Ahmad Siddiqui, who is presently serving as Pakistan’s consul general in Toronto, Canada, has been appointed as the high commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh. He will be replaced by Abdul Hamid. Pakistan’s new envoy to Muscat, Oman, will be Ahsan KK Wagan, who currently holds the office of Charge d’ Affaires in Niamey, Niger.

According to the FO statement, Maj Gen (r) Saad Khattak has been appointed as the high commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Abrar Hussain Hashmi has been appointed to serve as Pakistani consul general in Houston, Texas, US.